Plurality-sheet-drawing apparatus



May 15, 1928. 1,670,247 E. T. FERNGREN PLURALITY SHEET DRAWING APPARATUSFiled Feb. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l F1 :2- EL- ATTURNEY.

' May 15,1928.

` E. T. FERNGREN PLURALITY SHEET DRAWING APPARATUS 2 She-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 20,

INVE N T |:l 1Q Enoch 7.' fmgrr-w.

Patented ay l5, 192%.

TATES will@ MUCH T. FERNGBEN. F TOLED, OHIO, ABSIGNOB T0 THELIBBEY-OWENS SHEET GLASS COMPANY. 0F TOLEDO, OHIO?, A CORPORATION 0FOHIO.

PLURALITY-SHEET-DBAWING APPARATUS.

Application led February 20, 1925. Serial No. 10,492.

The presentinventioii relates to sheet glass apparatus. and hasparticular reference to an apparatus wherein a plurality of sheets aredrawn from a single tank.

An important object of the invention is to provide a sheet glassapparatus wherein a plurality of sheets are drawn from a single tank`and includes an arrangement of parts whereby the supply of glassadvanced to l each sheet source will he uniformly constant taneouslyfrom a single tank, the said tank 'having a plurality of memberspartially submerged in the glass thereof. the said members beingdisposed at different depths in said glass whereby a substantially dif-80 ferent stratum flow to each sheet will be had.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for making it possible tosimultaneously draw three or more first-class sheets from a single tank,and includes a plurality of 85 members disposed in said tank forcontrolling the suppl movement of the glass to the sheets, the saimembers each beng disposed i at ditei-ent depths in said glass so thateach respective sheet will be continuously and uniformly fed by a supplyglass of like density and viscosity.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of theapparatus,

Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing a slightly modified arrangement ofparts,

Fig. 3 is still another view showing anl other arrangement of parts,

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through one of the sheet drawingmechanisms,

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through a slightly modifiedform of construction,

gig. 6 is a section on line 66 in Fig. 5, an

' Fig. 7 is a fra entary perspective view of a portion of t e apparatus.

Heretofore a plurality of sheets have been drawn from a single tank butthe quality of the sheets have not been entirely Satisfactory due to thefact that the first sheet would consume the major portion of the usableyglass. and by the time the sheet supply ing glass has reached the pointof draw in the remaining sheets it is not in a condition suitable forthe purposes of forming agood first-class sheet.

In the present instance it is the desire to submerge members in a poolof molten glass in a manner that each of the sheets will be suppliedwith sutliciently workable glass, the supply being in continuous motionand preferabl from the different stratums of the supply ody. Thisso-called stratum How is accomplished by submerging the members todifferent depths so that each member will be largely supplied with glassfrom its own stratum. A sheet of glass formed from the same depthstratum of the molten solution will be of a better quality than if thesame sheet were drawn from glass flowing irregularly from variousstratums.

In Fig. 1 is shown one preferred form of the invention wherein thenumeral 10 desf ignates the tank furnace which forms and conditions theglass 11. and which hascommunication with the open tank 12, which may beprovided with a form of insulation 13 on the bottom and sides thereof.Partially submerged in the molten glass in the tank 12 are the fioatermembers 14, 15 and 16.` The floater members are preferably rectangularin configuration and are formed so that one of their sides is deeperthan the other as is clearly shown. The floaters 14,

15 and 16 are adapted to be submerged in.. the pool of glass to form arestricted pool or source 17, 18 and 19. In Fi 1 the floater 17 issubmerged just a tri e below the surface of the glass 11, while thelower edge of the shorter side of the loater 18 is substantially in thesame longitudinal plane with the lowei` edge of the longer side of thefloater 14. In the same manner the shorter edge of the floater 16 issubstantially in the same longitudinal plane as the lower edge of thelonger side of the floater 15. The sheets 20, 21 and 22 are drawn Vfromthe sources of glass 17, 18 and 19 respectively.- The sheets 20 may beheld to width by means of the rotatable rolls 23 arranged in themeniscus of the sheet source. while heat-absorbing means 24 may been'iployed to absorb sufiicient heat from the `glass to produce a sheetcapable ot sustaining its own weight. The sheet 2O is carried up betweenthe rolls 25 which are contained in the housing 26. Cover-tiles 27 mayhe employed to cover thel top surface o'l` the pool of glass 11 as iselearl'v shown. These cover-tiles 27 act. to reflect the heat radiatedtrom the main body of glass upon the lsheet -sources within the members14. 15 and 1G. rThis radiated heat., will assist in conditioning theglass to the proper temperature l'or being drawn into sheet form.

tis to he understood that the form of drawing mechanism herein describedis to be, considered as diagrammatic, merely showing one manner in whichthe `sheets may be drawn from the pools 17. 18 .and 19.

As the glass 11 flows toward the end 28. the upper lstratum will hetrapped in thel first, fioater 14. while the two lower stratums will betree to pass below the lower edge of the longer side thereof. The secondstratum will be trapped or will be consumed in the pool 13 and the sheetdrawn therefrom. The last stratum will likewise be taken care ot' in thelast tloater 16. As the sheets 20. 21 and 22 are continuously drawn. andas the rate of flow and the depth ot the iloater can be regulated tosuit requirements` it will be seen that each .stratum can he regulatedto be taken care of by its` respective sheet. so that the same sheetwill he lsupplied from the same lstratum at all times. Thus thetemperature of the glass and the resultant. viscosity thereof will heuniform for each sheet. although they temperature of the glass enteringinto the various sheets will be different. A discharge opening 29 ma\ beformed in the end 29 and controlled by a gate 30 so that a continuousoverflow ot glass can be had at the extreme end ol' the :apparatus toprevent backing up of stagnation of the glass. ln this manner all oftheglass passing through the tank 12 will he consumed in the formation ot'the sheets` or will he permitted to overflow through the discharge.opening' 29. so that there will be no tendencyv i'or stagnation of glasswith consequent ltwitrilication thereof.

ln Figs. 2 and il the arrangement of the llo'a'ters is slightlyditl'erent, while the bot- Lamas? tom of the tank 12 is inclined as at31. In the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the floaters arerelatively shorter than the Width of the tank as shown in Fig. 4, thusforming channels 32 between the ends of the foater and the sides of thesaid pot. The flow of glass in the modifications shown in Figs. 2 and` 3is slightly different'l than that shown in Fig. 1. In Figs. 2 and 3, thelower stratum of glass is consumed in the first lioater which isdesignated in Figs. 2 and 3 by the numeral 33. The upper stratums aredanimed otl' by the wall of the floater and are carried around throughthe channels 32, which being relatively narrow create a swift movementof glass, thus preventin stagnation. After passing around the oater 33,the glass is in part caused to dip down so that the next lower stratumor the lower stratum at that point is permitted to flow within thetloater 34. At the same time the upper stratum flows around through thechannels formed by the ends of the floater 34 in the sides of the pot tosupply the fioater 35 with glass. In other words, the tloaters 33, 34.and 35 respectively are each supplied with glass from the same stratumbut the flow movement is controlled in a different manner, namely, thatthe first Heater is furnished with the lower stratum, the next loaterthe intermediate stratum, and the last loater the upper stratum, whilein the first instance the first oater is furnished with the upperstratum, the second floater with the intermediate stratum, and the last@utter with the lower stratum. Any stagnation tendency of the surplusglass is taken care of by the discharge opening 29 and gate 30. so thatthe glass movement will at all times be in the same direction.

ln Fig. 5 the same principle is utilized to supply so-ealled deputers36, 37 and 38. The deputers are broadly old in the glass art and utilizethe hydrostatic for supplying glass under pressure to the sheets 39, 40and 41. which are drawn from the sources 42, 43 and 44. The deputersfunction in the same manner as in the prior art, but the ditl'erenceresides in the manner in which the supply of glass is flowed thereto.The depth of the deputers may be controlled by means of thescrew-threaded shaft 45 operable through the extensions 46, the saidshafts being received in the bushings 47 car-y ried in the sides of thetank.

The number of members and consequently the number of sheets may beincreased as desired, thus adapting the machine for huge production froma single melting furnace.

lt is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the lll) spirit oit the inventionorthe scope of the subjoined claims.

I. claim:

1. In sheet glass apparatus, a tank furnace, a tank communicatin`therewith andv having a mass of molten ass therein, and means fordrawing a purality of sheets therefrom, each of said sheets being drawnfrom a different stratum of glass.

2. In sheet glass apparatus, -a tank furnace, a tank communicatingtherewith and having a mass of molten glass therein, means for creatin aplurality of sheet sources, means, for drawing a sheet from each sheetsource, and means for continuously replenishing each Vsheet source withglassrfrom a different stratum.

3. In sheet glass apparatus, a tank furnace, a tank commumcatingtherewith and containing a mass of molten glass, a plurality of sheetsources, means for drawing a sheet from each sheet source, and means forcausing the sheet sources to\ be constantly replenished with moltenglass from different stratums 4. In sheet glass apparatus, a tankfurnace, a tank communicating` therewith and havingv a mass of moltenglass therein, a plurality of members disposed in the molten glass, andeach beingsubmerged .to a diierent depth therein, and means for drawinga 6. In -sheet glass apparatus, a tank fur` he nace, a tankcommunicating'therewith and containing a mass of molten glass, aplurality of members disposed in the molten glass and .each beingsubmerged -to a dierent depth therein, each of said members enclosing asheet sourceon at least twojsdes, and

means to Vdraw a sheet from each sheetV source, each of the sheetsources being replenished from a dili'erent stratum of glass. 7. -Insheet glass apparatus, a container for a mass of moltenglass, aplurality of refractory rmembers partially,` submerged therein todiier'ent depths said members for afmass of molten glass, a plurality ofmembers partiall submerged therein to enclose soirjces of g ass fromwhich sheets may be drawn, and means for heating the sources 'ing a ofglass by-heat radiated from the main supply of molten glass.

9. n sheet glass apparatus, a container for a mass of molten glass,:lil-plurality of refractory members parti y submerged therein, eachmember being submer ed to a different depth, whereby a source o glass isenclosed byeach .member and ada ted to bereplenished by 'lass from adifferent stratum, means for eatin the sources by heat radiated from themain body of glass, and means for drawing a sheet from each sheetsource.

10. In sheet 'glass apparatus, a container for a mass of molten glass, aplurality'of deputers disposed in the glass, each de uter beingsubmerged to a different depth w ereby t e deputers are each suppliedwith glass from a diierent stratum.

11.l In -sheet glass apparatus, a container for a `mass of molten glass,a plurality of deputers having one side longer than the other partiallyYsubmerged therein Jto different depths to form 'a plurality of sheetsources under pressure, each sheetV source being replenished withglassfrom a diferent stratum'ithan any other sheet source, and means fordrawing' a sheet from each sheet source.

12. In sheet glass apparatus, a container for a mass of molten glass, aplurality of deputers disposed in theglass, each deputer beingsubmerged-to a dierent depth, and means for heatin 'the glass in thedeputers by heat radiatedg from the main body of ass. g 13. Insheet lassapparatus, a set of deputers parta y submerged adjacent one another in abath of molten glass for drawlurali `of sheets from -said bath, eachhpsaid eputers 4having a ditferent In sheet lass apparatus, a set ofdeputers partial y submerged adjacent one another in a bath of moltenglass for drawing a plurality of .sheets from said bath, each of saideputers being of a diii'ere'nt height, and having one side deeperthanthe other. 15. The process of producingy a plurality of sheets ofglass, consisting in drawing a plurality of sheets of glass from a massof molten glass, each of said sheets being drawn from a differentstratum of glass.

.es 'i ies 16. -The process of producing a plurality i' ary, 1925. i

ENOCH T. FERNGREN.

